How to become a notary public in Oklahoma

Oklahoma notary public licenses

Oklahoma issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Oklahoma notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

How to apply

Apply online

sos.ok.gov⁴⁵

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years¹

Who needs a Notary Public license

An Oklahoma notary witnesses or attests signatures, administers and certifies oaths and affirmations, takes acknowledgments and certifies copies, anywhere in Oklahoma, for a maximum fee of $5.00 per act. A commissioned notary may also perform in-person electronic notarizations; remote online notarization needs separate SOS authorization.²

Requirements for a Notary Public license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
A national fingerprint-based criminal history check through the OSBI is required for new and renewal applicants from January 1, 2026. A felony conviction bars applying for or renewing a commission and is grounds for removal.¹

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen, and either a legal resident of Oklahoma or employed in Oklahoma (non-residents give their Oklahoma employment address).¹

Also required

Able to read and write English.⁶

Also required

Within 60 days after the commission is issued, and before any notarial act, file the $10,000 bond, notarized oath of office and loyalty oath, official signature and seal impression with the SOS.¹

Also required

Obtain a seal (embosser or rubber stamp) showing the notary's name, 'State of Oklahoma' and 'Notary Public'; the SOS does not sell seals.²

Also required

A valid email address is required on the application.⁷

Also required

Report a change of residence address in writing within 30 days; non-residents who stop working in Oklahoma must resign.⁸

Also required

Journals are recommended but not required for traditional notarizations.²

How much a Notary Public license costs

How to apply

1. File the Application for Notary Public Commission online at sos.ok.gov/notary/filing ('New Commission'), or by mail or in person, and pay the $50.00 fee.⁹ sos.ok.gov⁴
2. Complete the OSBI fingerprint-based national background check using the directions the SOS emails after you submit (OSBI fee up to $50.00).⁹
3. After approval, collect your commission certificate from your SOS online 'briefcase' (paper filers receive it by mail).⁹
4. Buy a notary seal and a $10,000 surety bond; sign the oath of office and loyalty oath before a notary.⁷ Form (PDF, sos.ok.gov)¹⁰
5. Within 60 days of the commission date, file the bond, oaths, signature and seal impression online ('Bond Filing') or by mail with the $25.00 filing fee. Do not notarize until the SOS approves the bond filing.¹

Application form

Form (PDF, sos.ok.gov)⁷

Processing time

2 to 4 weeks (after background-check results are received).⁷

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Four-year term. A renewal can be filed no earlier than six weeks before expiry and not after it; a renewing notary must also file a new bond and complete the national background check.⁸

If it expires

After expiry the commission cannot be renewed: you must apply for a new commission (new number and expiry date).⁸

Renew online

sos.ok.gov¹¹

Moving to Oklahoma with a license from another state

These are the routes SOS publishes for the Notary Public license. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Remote Online Notarization authorization

Lets a commissioned Oklahoma notary who is physically in Oklahoma notarize by audio-video for a signer in another place (in-state, elsewhere in the US, or abroad in limited cases), using SOS-registered technology. The fee may be up to $25.00 per remote act.³

Requirements

Also required

Name the RON technology vendor(s) and describe the technology; notify the SOS (free) before using another vendor.⁵

Also required

Keep a tamper-evident electronic journal and the audio-video recordings for at least 10 years.¹²

Also required

No additional bond is required for RON.¹²

Fees

How to apply

1. Hold an Oklahoma notary commission with an approved bond on file.¹²
2. Choose a RON technology vendor, then file the Remote Online Notarization application online (paper filing is not accepted) with your vendor and technology details. Pay $25.00.⁵
3. After approval, download your authorization certificate from your SOS briefcase before your first remote notarization.⁵

Renewal

When it expires

RON authorization ends when the commission expires. Renewing the commission does not renew it; file a new RON application for each four-year term.³

Renewal fee

$25³ (New RON application for each commission term)

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Oklahoma, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Oklahoma is on the Oklahoma license lookup page.

Look up a license

sos.ok.gov¹³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 49 O.S. §§ 1-12 (Notaries Public), as amended by SB 1028 (2025), eff. Jan. 1, 2026
• OAC 655:25 (Secretary of State, Notary Public) — 2019 emergency rulemaking text published by the SOS
• 49 O.S. §§ 201-214 (Oklahoma Remote Online Notary Act, SB 915 (2019))

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2026: SB 1028 (2025) took effect: OSBI fingerprint background check for new and renewal applicants; fees raised (new $25 to $50, renewal $20 to $45, bond filing $10 to $25, same-day $25 to $50); bond raised from $1,000 to $10,000.¹
• May 15, 2025: SB 1028 became law without the Governor's signature.¹⁴

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming